Still in HF?

[Lloyd2022]

Hi all,

First post. This is a great forum, very informative and supportive.

Diagnosed with hypertension 18 months ago, usual ACE inhibitors took 6 months to lower BP.

Then came AF, on Atenolol and Eliquis, but side effects, and GP switched me to Bisoprolol. Symptoms worsened and I ended up hospitalized and HF diagnosis with EF of 20%. On Metaprolol, Eliquis and Lasix. Had Cardioversion and Cardiologist switched Beta blocker to Sotolol.

3 months passed and Echo showed EF increased to 45%. Still in NSR, and Cardiologist said stop taking Lasix.

I am trying to lead healthier lifestyle.

I can walk for an hour per day and don't have too many other restrictions. Get a bit breathless sometimes.

My question is can HF caused by AF be 'temporary'?

Can it be reversed and is there a possibility that I could return to 'normal' EF?

I asked this question of the Cardiologist but I was a bit flustered and don't recall how exactly he responded. I think he answered yes to these questions but I'm unsure.

Thanks to all.

[10gingercats]

We are none of us medics here and speak/write from our own experiences. Try and not google too much as it can frighten the wits out of you.Heart failure seems to be a mixture of various heart problems and seems to vary from person to person. I do not know if there is a single definition of heart failure.Best ask your cardiologist again about this. My own situation seems to be that although the cardios say i have heart failure and i have permanent AF I understand I am stuck with the AF but the heart failure is more variable .if you look after yourself, eat as healthily as you can afford, take some exercise,do not booze or at least not heavily or smoke you have a good chance of a good long life even with heart failure. . I do not know about EF. Never asked about mine. and nobody has ever mentioned it.

[Lloyd2022 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks, I think that's an important point about the lack of a single definition of heart failure. Will try to follow your advice.

[Anon2023]

hi. I was diagnosed with HF after damage to my heart caused by endocarditis. I was told that my EF can go in and out of the normal range but I’ll be medication for the rest of my life. I was told that if my meds worked (entresto, bisoprolol, Dapa & spirilactone) then my life expectancy would be normal. They told me that the damage to my heart muscle can’t repair but the rest of my heart could compensate. I always have to take someone to appointments with me as I’m usually too strung out to take anything in. X

[Lloyd2022 in reply to Anon2023]

Thanks, hopefully the meds work. I'll take someone with me next time !

[Deejay62 in reply to Anon2023]

we’re on the same meds. And I agree with your every word.

[Lloyd2022 in reply to Deejay62]

👍

[Hidden]

Hi. I have also wondered this as i was in bad AF and had ef rate of 12%. After the cardioversion reset the rythum, things improved vastly alongside the meds i was taking at the time, entresto, betas, etc. I do wonder if it was actually the reset out of AF that has caused the heart to rebound to a decent level more than anything else. hard to tell.

[Lloyd2022]

Thanks for replying. Yes I guess it's important to use the correct terminology. Living with the condition rather than curing it.

[Lloyd2022]

Yes it's difficult to attribute improvements to one factor or another. Thanks.

[santino44]

Hi Lloyd

As good as it gets for a definition of Heart Failure

The day before I was discharged from hospital & implanted with ICD after Out of Hospital Cardiac I was visited by two Arrhythmia nurses while on the Cardiology ward after four weeks in ICU two of which was in an induced coma, the nurses had come to speak to me about End of life/Palliative care no idea why they wanted to speak to me so asked them to leave and they left me with the leaflets that they handed it me.

Once home and after a couple of days the discharge summary arrived and was shocked at the Heart Failure diagnosis ( NYHA II with HFrEF @ 34% ) which was not mentioned while in ICU/Cardiology.

Anyway putting the medication to one side I'm not my diagnosis as my physical activity routine of vigorous walking & Cycling has kept any symptoms of Heart Failure to a minimum.

Be assured that you can improve your EF I'm aware of others on this forum with EF below 20% holding their own each to their own set of circumstances as is the case for Heart Transplantation in severe HF cases.

Walking each day for an hour is great as I do, I aim for 1250/1300 steps which is around 1KM in under 10 minutes completing between 8 - 10,000 steps a day this has kept me fit and able for the last 3 years and at the age of 67.

Best wishes with your wellbeing.

escardio.org/The-ESC/Press-...

[Lloyd2022 in reply to santino44]

Thanks Santino' it sounds like you have come a long way from being in ICU and that disturbing initial diagnosis experience. It's encouraging that meds and exercise have seen you get back to feeling OK. I like that philosophy that ' I am not my diagnosis'.

All the best to you.

[devonian186]

Whilst you are 'trying' to lead a healthier lifestyle you dont tell us what your current lifestyle is. Are you overweight? eat the wrong foods? Smoke? Drink a little too much? Not get enough exercise? Getting too grips with all those aspects are likely to be at least as beneficial as medication and the two combined might ease your anxieties.

[Lloyd2022 in reply to devonian186]

Hi Devonian, I am a little overweight and used to drink too much, but exercise and diet have seen me lose about a stone in the last 6 weeks.

I agree that these factors are just as important as the medications. Thanks